Rabat International Church

I. Changing By-laws
By-laws of Rabat International Church provide further explanation for the governance of the actions of the congregation. By-laws can be amended by the congregation at any SAGM or special congregational meeting with a simple majority voting in favor of the amendment. Proposed changes in the By-laws must be presented in writing to the congregation on the Sunday prior to the SAGM or special meeting.

II. Church Board Elections

A. Prior to each SAGM, the board will designate a Nominating Committee of one member from the Board (serving as chairperson) who may enlist the help of one or two others from the church if desired. This committee will select candidates needed for the Board

B. The slate of candidates shall be presented in writing at least two Sundays prior to the date of the scheduled meeting. If an incumbent Board member is unable to complete the full term to which elected, the Board will determine the need for a replacement. Consideration will be given to the length of the unfulfilled term and the number of remaining Board members. If a replacement is deemed appropriate, a candidate will be duly elected to complete the unfinished term. Replacement nominees should expect to fulfill the remaining term of the Board member being replaced.

C. After the initial slate of candidates has been presented to the church, additional candidates may be nominated by any member of the church by contacting a member of the Church Board or a member of the Nominating Committee. Such nominations, however, must be published in the bulletin and / or announced in church on the Sunday prior to the date of the election.
D. Nominations from the floor will not be accepted during an SAGM.
E. All nominees shall:
            1. Be an affiliate member of RIC.
            2. In all good conscience expect to fulfill a term of one year (except replacements).
            3. Agree to take an active role in the responsibilities of the Church.

F. Under special circumstances, (in addition to replacements) an individual may be nominated to fulfill a term of less than a year if such action is considered by the Board to be in the best interest of the church. The circumstances involved, however, must be presented to the SAGM along with the slate of candidates. Some examples that may justify a shorter term are:
            1. To retain the services of an incumbent treasurer;
            2. To balance the number of Board members to be elected at the next SAGM.

G. If there are more nominations than vacancies. Elections shall be by secret ballot. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for holding the elections and counting ballots.

III. General Responsibilities of the Church Board

A. The Board shall select its officers (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer) following a SAGM.
B. The Board will ensure that the Treasurer, pastor and one other member of the congregation are authorized to sign checks on the RIC bank account.
C. The Board shall designate (and, as necessary, define the responsibilities of) those committees required to carry out the intent of the RIC Constitution. The actions of these committees will be recommendations to the Board and/or SAGM. These Committees may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Audit
2. Budget
3. Pastoral Care
4. Planning
5. Music
6. Communion
7. Sanctuary
8. Editorial
9. Nominating
10. Constitutional Review

D. The Board shall have the authority to approve non-budgeted expenditures up to 5,000 dirhams, as funds are available, for a specific project. More than one special project can be approved per month. However, all non-budgeted expenditures of a special nature must be subsequently reported to the church by the Chairperson of the Board. Any project requiring more than a total of 5 000.00 DH requires the approval of the congregation by simple majority vote of those present on Sunday Morning.

E. Designated gifts, if approved by the board, do not need to be brought before the church but can simply announced to the church as an action of the board.

F. The Board shall review the by-laws and recommend proposed changes at each SAGM. The Board may designate a committee to assist in the review. Any church member may present recommended changes through the Board for action at the SAGM in accordance with the procedures set forth in these by-laws.

G. If a Board member is absent from three consecutive Board meetings and / or cannot commit the necessary time to carry out his/her duties on the Board, s/he shall be subject to recommended replacement at the discretion of the Board.


IV. Duties and Offices of the Church Board
A. The Chairperson and/or Vice Chairperson will:
            1. Be responsible for ensuring that the Constitution is adhered to in RIC actions taken by the Fellowship;
            2. Monitor special committees to ensure timely execution of designated functions;
            3. Chair monthly and special Board meetings;
            4. Chair SAGMs in the absence of the Pastor;
            5. Work with the Board Secretary in writing a proposed agenda for each Board meeting and for each Fellowship Business Meeting.
            6. The chairperson may choose to designate the pastor to chair monthly board meetings at his or her discretion.
B. The Secretary and/or Assistant Secretary will:
            1. Keep minutes of all Board and Fellowship Meetings;
            2. Work with the Chairperson in preparation of agendas;
            3. Prepare correspondence as needed;
            4. Make regular written reports of Board actions available to the church.
C. The Treasurer and /or Assistant Treasurer will:
            1. maintain accurate records of all income and expenditures;
            2. assure that all Fellowship collections are initially counted in the presence of one other person;
            3. make regular financial reports to the Board and to the congregation;
            4. make financial reports to each SAGM;
            5. make prompt payment of all legitimate bills and disbursements as authorized by the church budget;
            6. serve as chairperson of the Budget Committee and ensure the presentation of the proposed fiscal budget at the November SAGM.
D. As a whole, the Church Board will work with the Pastor to outline, on a yearly basis, the actions required to see that the goals of the church, as stated in the Constitution, are met. The resultant action plans can follow this pattern:
            1. Goal a:
            Rabat International Church will develop various types of programs for the well being of the members of RIC and others in its fellowship. These programs will be established by the RIC Board and the Pastor and be reviewed annually before the May SAGM by the Board and the Pastor to determine their effectiveness.

            2. Goal b:
            I. RIC will have a weekly worship service.
            ii. RIC will have Sunday School programs for children and adults and a Vacation Bible School if needed. The Sunday School Director(s) will identify the teaching needs and the curriculum needs of the Sunday School and the Vacation Bible School. RIC is responsible for providing the teachers and the means to obtain the necessary curricula and other supplies.
            iii. Additionally, adult and advanced youth programs of Bible Study and other Christian Education programs will be developed separately and will vary according to the direction of the fellowship members who are active participants in the program.
            iv. RIC will have a program of music and whenever possible, a Director of Music. When a director is identified, he/she will work in co-ordination with the Music Committee to develop an appropriate program of music by
            iv a.             Directing a choir and Fellowship singing
            iv b.            Identifying a pianist and/or guitarist
            iv c.             Developing a music program for the youth
                     iv d.    Purchasing the necessary materials as approved by the Board


            3. Goal c:
            I. RIC will develop programs which will minister to the spiritual and human needs of the community. The nature of these programs will vary according to the community needs at any given time. These programs will be reviewed by the Board annually before the Semi-annual General Meeting and revised or changed as deemed necessary by the Board and the Pastor.
            ii. Endeavor to give 50% (fifty percent) of RIC income to missions. The term “missions” is interpreted to include support for the pastor, youth and music leaders, guest speakers, as well as Christian activities outside of the fellowship.

 
E. The Church Board may set up committees for Rabat International Church as they are deemed necessary. Each Committee should be given clear instructions concerning its leadership, task, length of service and any other pertinent details. These committees may include, but are not limited to the following:
            1. An Audit Committee consisting of one member of the Board other than the Treasurer, current or outgoing, and at least one member from the congregation. This committee should audit the RIC books in sufficient time to present a report to the church at the November SAGM. Additionally, they should conduct a special audit each time a new Treasurer is elected.
            2. A Budget Committee consisting of the Treasurer, the assistant Treasurer and one member from the church. This committee prepares a draft budget for review and approval by the Church Board. The Treasurer will present the Board-approved budget proposal to the congregation at the November SAGM.
NOTE: The church fiscal year is 1 November through 31 October; therefore the draft must be finalized by the Committee and reviewed/ approved by the Board after the last Sunday in October and before the SAGM in November.
            3. A Pastoral Care Committee can consist of one member of the Board and two members from the congregation. They can aid the Pastor by acting as a liaison between the church and staff in matters of emotional, financial, spiritual or physical need.
            4. A Planning Committee can facilitate and assist in the organization of Church activities. This includes such things as organizing potlucks, bus trips to the VOH and other events in the life of the church. Activities are always to be coordinated through the Board.
            5. A Music Committee can work with and support any designated Music Director. In the absence of a designated music director, the Committee can take responsibility for planning special music including individual and community performances. The Chairperson should maintain church music files in the absence of a designated music director.
            6. A Communion Committee consisting of four members would have the following duties:
            a. Prepare the elements and table for scheduled communion services;
            b. Maintain proper care and storage of communion utensils, tablecloth etc.,
            7. An Editorial Committee consisting of two members recommended by the Pastor may have responsibilities including:
            a. Assembling a weekly bulletin;
            b. Publishing special programs for musical events etc., including any announcements to the community at large;
            c. Maintaining a current church directory list of telephone numbers, birthdays, anniversaries etc.,
            8. A Nominating Committee ( see point 1, Church Board Elections)


V. Duties and responsibilities of the Pastor
A. The Pastor, as overseer, will help RIC to attain the goals they have set for themselves ( see Constitution – “Goals”) viz. unity in Christian fellowship, growth in worship and ministry in the community.
B. The Pastor will lead the Church Board in a yearly review of church programs to determine their effectiveness before the May SAGM.
C. As overseer, the Pastor will be responsible for leading or delegating others to lead
            1. A weekly worship service
            2. Sunday School for all ages
            3. Discipleship training
            4. Youth work
D. In addition, the Pastor will:
            1. Care for the Church by providing counsel & encouragement
            2. Ensure that the Church reaches out to the international community, making itself known, offering counseling, information and courses to those who are interested.
            3. Administer budgeted amounts for benevolence each month and make monthly reports to the Board about the use of these funds.
            4. Oversee the development of worship through music.
            5. Chair SAGM and special general meetings.
            6. Serve as ex-officio member and consultant for the Church Board.
            7. Offer whole-hearted commitment to RIC.
            8. Be self-motivated in the use of his time.
            9. Give a short report regularly to the Church Board of ministry activities.
            10. Ensure the production of a weekly church bulletin, containing an order of worship, church calendar and official announcements as prescribed by the Constitution, statistics and other information pertinent to the church.
            11. Oversee the work and activities of church staff members.


VI. Representation of RIC in other organizations or associations

A.   REPRESENTATIVES:

In terms of Article 4 paragraph II of the Constitution, RIC may join other organizations or associations. RIC’s representation in any such organization shall be made up of at least one board member and one other affiliate member of the congregation chosen by the Board. The Board’s decision on which of its members will serve as representative will be decided internally by the Board on the basis of consensus, or failing agreement, by vote of a two thirds majority at a regular Board meeting.

The Board’s choice of ordinary affiliate member to represent RIC will be ratified by a simple majority of affiliate members voting at any SAGM or Special General Meeting called for this purpose.  
In the event that any such representative is not ratified at the SAGM, the Board will nominate at a later date another representative, which choice the Board will then seek to be ratified by the same means as above.  If this second attempt fails, the Board will appoint a second Board member to represent it to any other external organization or association.

In addition to the two members above, the Board may decide to ask the Pastor to represent it on any such organization or association.

B.   TENURE:.

Representatives of RIC to other organizations or associations will normally serve a term of one year, renewable to a maximum of two years. Any representative with the exception of the Pastor must take at least one year’s break before being eligible to serve another term.

C.   DUTIES:
The duties of these representatives shall be to keep the RIC Board informed of decisions taken by the outside organization or association on a regular basis and to report to the SAGM on activities of the said organization or association.

D.  ACCOUNTABILITY:
The two representatives will have the authority to vote on any issues brought to ballot by the said organization or association. The representatives will be required to conform to the policy and opinions of the RIC Board when exercising their vote. Any controversial decision will first be referred to the Board before the Representatives exercise their vote in an outside association or organization.

These by-laws were revised and approved by the congregation at the Semi-annual General Meeting, 19 November, 2006.

Mike Russon                                                                          Jack Wald
Board Chairman                                                                       Pastor